BUSINESS REVIEW - JUNE 2017

Oh my! How time flies. I've just emailed my business coaching clients a set of questions to help them reflect on their Q2 results, and plan for Q3 and Q4. It doesn't seem that long ago since I was emailing them about their Q1 results.

How was your Q2? Did it bring you the business results you were hoping for?

Here are a few of my June highlights and insights.

#1: Meeting Liz Earle

Undoubtedly the highlight of my month was meeting Liz Earle at the FoundHER festival. Liz Earle Beauty is one of my favourite skincare ranges, and is renowned for the exceptional quality of its products and exemplary customer service. Liz shared a number of business lessons. These are just a few of my favourite quotes:

"You build great brands by building great products - there's no secret formula!""We used to have an empty chair in meetings for our customer. It reminded us to think - What does she think?""You have to be absolutely passionate about what you’re doing, as if it's successful, it will consume you"

"Build a business slowly to build it strong.If it has to be NOW - It has to be NO"

Liz Earle herself is a powerhouse. A writer, TV presenter, editor-in-chief of a new magazine, founder of a Fairtrade jewellery company and farmer. I’ve been tuning in to her new podcast to find out how she has such boundless energy, and drinking Kefir, a probiotic yoghurt drink she recommends, in the hope that some of this energy rubs off on me!

=> You can read my article. How To Build A Business Like Liz Earle, here.

#2: You Don't Have To Be A Celebrity, But You Do Have To Be An Expert

During her talk, Liz Earle made an observation about the number of people in the health and wellbeing space who have achieved celebrity status, but are not actually experts in their field. In some instances, the advice they’re giving is decidedly dodgy. We had a bit of a natter about this afterwards.

I have to confess that seeing people who’ve never run a business before presenting themselves as business coaches and consultants can get on my wick sometimes. (A British expression meaning to irritate or annoy). I spent 8 years in the trenches as a CEO after a long career in senior leadership roles, and I’ve got the battle scars to prove it.

But as one of my mentors used to advise me in my rookie CEO days, you’ve just got to ‘rise above it’ and focus on elevating your brand to the highest level possible.

[callout]Do you dream of creating a brand that’s loved, trusted and respected? It’s easier than you think! Download my free guide, How To Create A Brand Your Customers Love. Click here to get started.[/callout]

#3: Build It Slow To Build It Strong

It’s all too easy in my experience to compare your fledgling business to other more established ones, and find it wanting. There’s a very wise quote from the writer Jon Acuff that says:

Don't compare your beginning to somebody else's middle."

It’s easy to get distracted by the latest marketing strategies. Snapchat last year. The never ending obsession with email marketing… The bottom line is that the most effective way of building a business is through word of mouth.

But how do you get word of mouth referrals when you’re a startup with no track record to speak of? Here are just a few ideas:

If you’re a B2C business, put together a short brochure, which you’ve made as visually appealing as your resources will allow, and send it out to all your friends and family. Exactly as Liz Earle and Chrissie Rucker did when they created their very first mail order catalogue, and mailed it to everybody that they knew.

If you’re a B2B business, write an authoritative White Paper, as one of my clients is doing, and send this out to all your business associates.

If you’re a B2B or B2C business, host an event to launch a product. The Brand Stylist did this to launch her recent book, Brand Brilliance, and my friend Liz Doyle regularly hosts ‘product parties’ at home and invites a selection of friends.

#4: Look Out…

… for two new guides I’ve written. One on how to recruit superstar employees. And a second on how to build an admired brand, just like your favourite brands. They’re in final draft form now. And I’m waiting on getting them produced in my new brand style.

#5: On The Subject Of My Rebrand

New visual effects and an updated website are on the way for Built To Succeed. I cannot tell you how much work has gone just into the ‘thinking about what I want stage.’ I’d hoped to get this project wrapped up by the end of Q2, but with all the work involved, that’s simply not been possible. In the meanwhile, here’s a peek at a mood board I saw that provided inspiration for my re-brand.

If you’d like to discuss how I can help you get the business results you want in Q3, Q4 and beyond, I’d love to have a chat about whether we’d be a good fit to work together. Simply use this link to arrange an informal Skype coffee chat. There’s no hard sell. Just a discussion, some solid advice and a straightforward, honest assessment of whether 1:1 business coaching (or business consultancy) would be right for you.

[callout]Do you dream of creating a brand that’s loved, trusted and respected? It’s easier than you think! Download my free guide, How To Create A Brand Your Customers Love. Click here to get started.[/callout]

Join The Conversation

Question: How was your Q2? Did you hit your targets and achieve the results you wanted? I love reading your feedback so please do take a moment to share how you’re going to use this in the comments box below.

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Work With Me

I’m Denyse Whillier, a Sussex and London based business coach and consultant. I work with responsible business leaders to build profitable and successful brands that do good, make money and help to change the world. I draw on Built To Succeed™, my proven success system, developed during my 8 years in the trenches as a CEO, to help my clients to achieve their goals.

I’d love to start a conversation about whether we’re a good fit to work together. Simply use this link to arrange an informal Skype coffee chat. There’s no hard sell. Just solid advice and a straightforward, honest assessment of whether 1:1 business coaching (or business consultancy) would be right for you.